A major tragedy was narrowly averted at the United Evangelical Church (UEC), Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, after church members discovered a large metal object suspected to be an unexploded bomb during routine reconstruction work.
The incident occurred while congregants were excavating the church premises to erect a new perimeter fence. The old fence had been dismantled to make way for the ongoing expansion of a state government road that separates the church building from the parsonage.
During the digging process, workers uncovered a heavy metal object buried beneath the ground. Unaware of its potential danger, one individual reportedly attempted to move it toward a nearby borehole for closer inspection. However, the priest in charge quickly became suspicious that the object could be explosive and immediately warned everyone to stay clear.
The priest promptly alerted a military unit in Aba. Soldiers swiftly arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and safely evacuated the suspected explosive device.
An eyewitness recounted that the discovery occurred during excavation for the new fence and that the pastor later invited soldiers to remove the object after concerns were raised about its nature.
Residents, onlookers, and sympathizers expressed deep gratitude that the device was discovered before detonating. Many noted that if it had exploded, it could have caused devastating loss of life and property, given the area’s constant activity involving traders, commuters, and church members. Estimates suggest that over 100 people could have been killed, with surrounding structures severely damaged.
Confirming the incident, Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, said he was awaiting a detailed briefing from the priest overseeing the Ehere/Umuola branch.
Attempts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer of the 14 Brigade in Ohafia were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. However, a senior military officer in Aba confirmed the evacuation and disclosed that Army headquarters has taken over the investigation to determine the object’s nature, origin, and how it came to be buried at the site.
The discovery has heightened concerns within the community over potential security risks posed by buried explosives, which may be remnants of past conflicts or the result of deliberate placement. Authorities have yet to release further details as investigations continue.
